Virginia chili cookoff attendees encouraged urged to complete survey

Submitted News

Wednesday

Oct 11, 2017 at 4:15 PM

Delawareans who attended the Chincoteague Chili Chowder Cook-Off on Sept. 30 in Chincoteague, Virginia, are encouraged to complete an online survey in the wake of a foodborne illness outbreak associated with the event.

The Virginia Department of Health began investigating a gastrointestinal disease outbreak shortly after a number of people who attended the event developed nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever. Illness in a Delaware resident who reportedly attended the event may be linked.

VDH reached out to neighboring states’ health departments, including the Delaware Division of Public Health, and asked for assistance in getting their residents to complete the survey, whether they became ill or not. The survey can be found at bit.ly/2wCldoL.

VDH estimates 2,500 attendees from multiple states were present at the cook-off. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional questions can call the Accomack County, Virginia Health Department at 757-302-4268.